Report details challenges facing Indian voters

Conditions such as distance, health, weather, income and a history of discrimination in voting are some of the reasons why satellite offices on American Indian reservations would help with late registration and in-person absentee voting, according to a recent study prepared for two Indian voting rights groups.

The 47-page study, “An analysis of factors that result in vote denial for American Indian voters living on reservations in Montana,” has been forwarded to Secretary of State Linda McCulloch by Four Directions and the Indian People’s Actions.

The report was commissioned shortly after McCulloch issued a directive Oct. 19 that Montana counties must establish satellite voting offices for in-person absentee voting and later-voter registration for the 2016 general election.

Bret Healy, a consultant with Four Directions, a South Dakota-based Indian voting rights organization, said the report is a comprehensive look at the reservations and encouraged counties to read it.

“She gave them the opportunity to do the right thing,” he said about McCulloch’s directive, adding most Montana counties likely do not have capacity to evaluate the Voters Rights Act of 1965 or the will to comply.

“She has the authority to tell them to do it,” he said.

Healy said a major point in the study is that partial equality is not enough and that fully equal satellite offices should be placed on reservations.

Blair Fjeseth, a spokeswoman for the Secretary of State’s office, said they received the report and are still working with counties and tribal governments “to make sure voters have access to these offices where they are needed.”

The study by Moana J. Vercoe outlines the history of American Indian voting in Montana, highlighting issues such as conditions on reservations, the impact of distance, access and time on voting, availability of transportation, weather that can hamper travel and socioeconomic factors.

Distance from reservations to precincts in seven Montana counties ranges from one mile to 59 miles, according to the report.

Montana’s seven reservations tend to be in remote and sparsely populated areas. Of those seven, the Crow and Fort Belknap are the only two that have polling locations within a single county.

The study found that the Blackfeet, Crow, Fort Belknap, Northern Cheyenne and Rocky Boy’s reservations have “major differences between American Indian and white populations across a range of variables.”

It notes that nearly 20 percent or more of American Indians in these counties have not completed high school. Their unemployment rate is higher in each county compared to whites, sometimes 10 times as much. The median family income is one-third to one-half less than whites in most counties, family size is larger and a higher percent live in poverty, according to the study.

As a result, American Indians often live for varying periods of time in different households.

“The fluidity of living arrangements in many reservation homes can make it difficult for individuals to regularly access their mail,” Vercoe wrote.

She also said the majority of Indians on reservations receive their mail through P.O. boxes, travel to get their mail, and mail service varies greatly.

Vercoe has a Ph.D. in political science and economics, according to her resume, and is director of research and programming at Calhoub Consultancy in Los Angeles.

Walter C. Fleming, department head and professor of Native American studies at Montana State University, said the biggest factor is location of the reservations.

“They aren’t exactly nearby county seats,” said Fleming, who is a past vice president for Montana ACLU. “They are communities that are pretty spread out.”

But, he said, the problem with proximity of voting places isn’t just on reservations, noting some MSU students recently said there were no voting places on campus.

“People assume that it is normal to drive to the county seat and conduct business,” said Fleming, who had not read the report. “For people who have lower economic strata, they may not be able to find a ride and pay for gas money.”

The report comes after a Feb. 1 announcement by McCulloch that five satellite offices on reservations are being set up for the 2016 elections.

The offices will offer services such as late registration and in-person absentee voting for 29 days prior to the election.

The tribes have agreed to provide space and basic services such as Internet and phone, and counties will provide staff and resources, she said.

Satellite offices will be open in Roosevelt, Glacier, Rosebud and Big Horn counties, and Big Horn is opening two offices, officials said.

Fjeseth said they were still in talks with four other counties and should have more details soon.

The Oct. 19 directive came from a 2012 lawsuit, when plaintiffs from the Crow, Northern Cheyenne and Fort Belknap Indian reservations sued McCulloch and the elections offices in Blaine, Rosebud and Big Horn counties, arguing Indians did not have the same voting opportunities.

Tribal activists have said the proposals to have polling places open for two days a week a month prior to the election are unacceptable and want equal polling place treatment. Whereas county officials have said those proposals comply with the lawsuit settlement. The activists are continuing the challenge the proposals.

The federal Voting Rights Act requires actions to increase voting access for groups that have a demonstrated history of being discriminated against.

Fleming said Indian voting is becoming increasingly more important.

“They certainly can be a swing vote if the margins are close,” he said.

More online

To read the full report, go to: http://www.fourdirectionsvote.com/